On Christmas Eve, we got an unexpected visitor — it was Grandma Lauren! (Or her ghost, anyway. I’d like to think the actual Grandma Lauren is lounging on a beach somewhere, drinking mai tais and singing “Aloha Oe”.) I found Grandma’s spirit roaming around upstairs, which creeped me out at first, but she was smiling and looked harmless, so I followed her. She ended up going into her old room and cheering over her bed. I guess she’s remembering all the good times she had in there. Hee.
Mom spent most of the next day preparing the Christmas feast while my sisters and I watched Christmas movies on TV. (We’re kinda lazy in my house.)
The roast was excellent. It looked like something out of a Flintstones cartoon.
We all said “Merry Christmas” to each other in various silly voices before digging in. Mom tried to convince Dad to make his next movie a Christmas movie, and he said, “But my last movie was a Christmas movie!”
“No, it wasn’t,” said Mom. “The only thing Christmassy in it was the mug of eggnog.”
Dad looked affronted. “I love eggnog!”
We all giggled, because Dad always drinks a little too much eggnog and then does crazy things like run out into the yard and make snow angels in his pajamas.
While my sisters and I cleared the table and washed dishes, Mom and Dad met under the mistletoe. Dad had already drunk some eggnog, so he was silly as ever.
My sisters and I got stuck with cleaning up the dishes, but we didn’t mind, since Mom and Dad don’t get to spend all that much time together.
At least they didn’t get all disgusting and maul each other or anything.
After everything was cleaned up, we flopped onto the couch again for more Christmas movies. Dad brought over some cookies he had baked the day before, but we were too full to eat dessert just yet.
We were all watching “A Miracle on 34th Street” when suddenly Misty yelled, “Santa!”
“Yes, Misty,” said Kaela. “That’s Santa. Good job!”
“No, really!” she said, pointing at the Christmas tree. We all turned and looked — sure enough, it was that jolly old elf, Santa Claus, except that he had this bizarre beard — instead of being just plain white, it shimmered and changed colors.
Figuring it was one of my uncles with a fancy fake electric beard from Sim-Mart, I walked over to him to get a closer look.
“Hi, Santa!” I said. “I’m Anastacia. I hope you know I’ve been very good this year.”
“Ho, Ho, Ho!” he said.
(NOTE: This was the Santa that appears when you make the holiday cookies from the Holiday Party Pack, but the beard is another one of my graphics glitches, I think.)
I examined him closely — he looked like no one I know, and aside from the fact that he seemed a little younger than I expected Santa to be, he definitely looked the part. I decided my dad must have hired a Santa-lookalike.
(continued on Page 3)
Even though you said it’s expensive, you’re making me want the Holiday Party Pack with the beatiful scenery at Villa Ravelo! Oh, well. For once I’m not going to ramble.
Oooooh! Trent and Kaylynn! I hope no one gets hurt. I love the girls clothes, especially that top Anastacia’s wearing. I hope they all have a good time in college – I’m glad they’re all so chummy. And I know I’m rather early, but Merry Christmas!
i loved it i cant wait till what happens next
Hhaha Johnny Depp? Alien kid? THat would explain his sexyness. And i love Kaela’s hair, where did you get it? I love the glitchy Santa beard haha. I was going to download the mistletoe, but I’m way to lazy…even though i think i did. Haha oh well, i forget. Johnny took my brain…being alien and all. But what in the heck is going on with that Kaylynn woman? AND TRENT! She’s ETHAN’s woman. Or was. Sexy Ethan, i feel sorry for him..even though he’s with him..family somewhere. I dont know, I can’t remember…too much eggnog..haha actually i hate eggnog, crazy me. But yes, I hope you have a great Christmas!
Great update. Uh oh…..I hope Trent behaves.
Oooh dear, an affair you say? Oh yikes, I would’ve never expected that of Trent, really not!! I hope it will work out some way. I love the santa-beard *lol*! And I also like how you still keep it interesting on who’s gping to be the heir! So – wish you a good night, its half past three in the middle of the night already (thank godness holiday!!) – bed’s calling :)
Oh, man, I love that little portrait of the “little red o_O Bunny” (as I like to call him) in a scarf in Anastacia’s room. Is it from Maxis, or in an EP or something? (That little red o_O bunny’s shirt is one of my favorites.)
And, just a note, I wrote this comment while reading the entry, like I usually do. It’s fun! Funtimes, all ’round!
Eeek, a parade of Joe Carrs. That… sounds kind of funny, actually.
The guy with his big ol’ brown pompadour, all pointing and “freeeee-za!”‘ing at everybody– except there are, like, 24 of him!
And then some people who don’t like him (*looks pointedly at Anastacia*) will throw tomatoes.
And people who do like him (like her-mom-whose-name-I-forget-but-will-probably-remember-soon-enough) will… clap, or something?
At Joe, not at the tomatoed Joes.
Teehee. I like the parent’s conversation. It’s just so… sweet.
And nogtastic.
Holiday pack, eh? I guess it’s about time I head back to the official website… I don’t do that, often. >_>;
I don’t know, but I think that rainbow glowing beard makes him more festive.
Oh, silly Anastacia. She doesn’t understand that the hugging is jnust the Christmas Ravelo/Santa cheer, spreading with arms.
…or something.
Hrm. Maybe Simon, like Anastacia, does not understand the CR/S Cheer. (Abbreviations rock!)
Professor of everything! Man, that phrase is so familiar! Whoa, deja vu. (With the appropriate accent marks.)
Ohh nooo! Oh, man. T–
See, I was trying to find a nonspoilery way to put it but I have to go really fast so no punctuation boooo I like punctuation bye!
This update is so different from your Shanley Christmas update of one year ago. Does the mistletoe force Sims in the same room to kiss? Oh dear. I loved the decorations and the clothes, and I laughed at Santa saying about how he thought he looked delicious. That was just too funny. It was still funny and sweet but there’s definitely a feeling that something bad is coming. Or, maybe it’s just the stress of becoming an heiress? Great update, and I can’t wait to read more on the Ravelos. Happy Christmas!
Oooh, the drama! And how very brave of Trent, considering that he lives with four women. Any man who lives with four women really ought to have a healthy dose of fear in him, haha.
I must side with Anastacia on the Joe Carr issue. He kind of squicks me out. He’s so mean in my neighborhood, always picking fights and kicking trash cans.
Great update!
Gah! Trent, you bad bad boy! :(
But Kaylynn just seems to have a permanent case of Love Potion 8.5 going on. *sets all her male Legacy Sims into having Turn Off: Black Hair*
Fantastic update as always, ma’m.
The mistletoe made them kiss — I was actually upstairs directing someone else in the family and heard the “falling in love” sound, so I flipped down to the first floor, and there I saw Trent and Kaylynn with hearts above them. So I didn’t actually see the kiss, but I’m pretty sure Trent stood under the mistletoe autonomously, and his relationship with Kaylynn was high enough that when she went up to kiss him, he didn’t turn her away. I didn’t realize that mistletoe was so dangerous! But I thought it would add an interesting wrinkle to the Ravelo story, so I worked it in. Trent’s not really a cad!
Nita – Before you run out and buy the Holiday Party Pack, I thought I should mention that roughly 2/3rds of the Christmassy stuff you see in my pics is custom content downloaded from various non-Maxis sites. I’m a downloading fiend. :-) So if there’s anything in particular you like, let me know, and I’ll tell you where I got it from.
Nina – Welcome, and thank you!
Eva – Heehee, my sister made Johnny Depp in the game and then got him abducted, so he had an alien baby. He’s not actually an alien himself, although that would be hilarious! Oh, and Kaela’s hair is from Mod the Sims 2 — you can find it here.
Blu – The little red bunny portrait came with the Maxis Holiday Party Pack. And ‘nogtastic’ is my new favorite word!
Bitsy – Yeah, the Shanley Christmas was more of an interlude, a little storytelling break, whereas with the Ravelos it’s part of the ongoing story. It’s cool that you remembered the Shanley one.
Kay – Heh, Kaylynn is attracted to almost all of the Ravelo boys (especially the ones with Family aspirations). She must be turned on by black hair or something! I should just have her marry Ron and get her out of the picture. ;-) Your NL legacy sounds really fun, by the way! I wish we could see pictures! But it’s cool just hear about it, too.
D; Make Kaylynn disapeeeerrr…
I mean. ;_; Make him leave the poor man alone. *SIGH*
Oh!! I love the Christmas story. I’m pretty sure I want to go live with those people in their house. I wouldn’t kiss Trent or anything. I wish the real santa had a multicolored flashing beard. Imagine how “The Night Before Christmas” would have been written then:
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as colorful and flashing like the good ole’ days at studio 54.
lil, that was awesome. I think you should write my next update!
And Mieko, I’m very sorry to have distressed you. I’ll make the bad lady go away!
I always come to your website and wait for new stories to be posted.and yhis is my first time ever leaving a comment at your website. Thanks for welcoming me too.
Santa’s color changing beard is awesome! I love all three of the girls in this generation. I don’t know which I’d rather see as the heir. I have a question about a couple of items in your photos–the Christmas rugs and the snowman in the next to last picture. Are those from the Holiday pack or a non-Maxis site?
I think I’ll upload some pics to Photobucket and slap the addy up here. I have one funny glitch in particular that I managed to catch in action. And yes, have Kaylynn marry Ron! *G* Silly Trent, side flings are for Romance Sims.
I’ve gotten my little Nightlife Legacy Sim into a fairly cozy spot. When she went out prowlin’ she stumbled over this cute dark skinned, baby faced fellow with green eyes and long brown hair. In one night they went from strangers to engagement! But I don’t think I’ll ever have her marry or even move him in, so far I’m getting a steady income between her actual job and him giving her gifts after going for ‘outings’. It’s amazing what a bit of Woohoo can do for group fun. ;)
She’s had one girl with him already, but I’m not too keen on the resulting offspring. She’s cute-ish, but she’s got awful stats. 25 points, the majority of which has gone into outgoing and active with 1 in neat. I’ll try breeding them one more time, and if that kid’s got bad stats too I’m kicking this guy to the curb as well. Pretty faces don’t mean a thing! It’s all about the stats, baby.
A few photos from my legacy challenge. Here’s Agnes McKay meeting Justus Reeves:
http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/322/nxl001meetingjustus4ra.jpg
Cute moment from the hot tub where it looks like he’s daring her to touch his heart:
http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/8848/nxl002touchmyheart1ux.jpg
The fruit of their union turns into a toddler and Agnes turns into a body contortionist:
http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/8113/nxl005bodycontortions6ko.jpg
Close up of the same fruit, who by the way I named Bridget:
http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/1168/nxl003bridget4oh.jpg
Bridget going ‘Wow, these special effects seem really real!’
http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/9084/nxl004lifeimitatestv1le.jpg
And yes, the whole house is in shades of green and yellow. XD
xDD I was just kidddiiiiinggg.
Thanks though :P
I gotta go get that Holiday Pack! I wanna see Santa. Great Update, Jen. Oh, and Merry Christmas!
Oh WOW! What an update. I’m so touched that Anastacia is an “Heiress” fan!!! I hope things work out for her as well as they seem to have for Caliopie… Beautiful Christmas decorations, as well. Your stories feel so authentic and your characters completely believable. Bravo Ravelos! (and long live Llama Mama!)
Amy
Great update as always Jen! The Ravelos have such pretty girls! All of my teenagers in the game turn out looking kinda ugly! LOL, but you always get pretty girls!
Nina – You’re welcome! Stop by again! :-)
Shana – I got some Christmas rugs from Simplan-X; there’s an advent calendar there with a free download every day. Great stuff! (Einfach-Simlisch and Parsimonious are doing something similar, and also have some nice stuff). As for my other rugs (which are recolors of Echo’s rug mesh), I think I got them at The Sims Resource. The dancing musical snowman is from the Maxis Holiday Party Pack.
Kay – Love the pics! The one where she’s holding the toddler is scary! Glitches like that freak me out. ;-) Agnes and Justus make a lovely couple, and I like Bridget’s freckles. I bet she’s going to be a good-looking teen. By the way, Justus looks exactly like Renaud from my Ravelo Legacy, the guy who Marlee dated and Cady married. He’s definitely cute!
Mieko – :-D
Scally – Merry Christmas to you, too!
Amy – Thanks! You know I love “The Heiress” so much I just had to put it in my story. Llama Mama forever!
Paige – I’ve been very lucky so far; I think Lauren had good genes!! We’ll see what happens in the future — there are only so many decent-looking townies and NPCs, eh?